The days turned into weeks, and the routine of serving Dunk and his brothers while attending school continued. Despite the hierarchy, there was an undeniable shift in the air. The Joong brothers’ presence had begun to unsettle the rigid dynamic in the Gemini household.
At school, Joong tried to keep his interactions with Dunk minimal. Yet, Dunk’s lingering stares and unexpected comments made that challenging. Dunk wasn’t overtly cruel—he was reserved, distant, but there was something about him that made Joong wary.
One afternoon, as Joong and his brothers finished setting the dining table for dinner, Dunk entered the room. His gaze briefly swept over the perfectly arranged silverware before landing on Joong.
“Joong, stay behind,” Dunk said curtly.
Pond and Fourth exchanged glances before quietly leaving the room, neither daring to question the order. Once they were gone, Joong stood stiffly by the table, avoiding Dunk’s piercing gaze.
“You’re tense,” Dunk observed as he approached.
Joong shifted uncomfortably. “Is there something you need, sir?”
Dunk frowned at the formal address. “I told you before, you don’t have to call me ‘sir.’”
Joong glanced up, his brows furrowed. “With all due respect, that’s what I’m supposed to do.”
“Supposed to,” Dunk echoed. “You always talk about what you’re ‘supposed’ to do. Doesn’t it get exhausting?”
Joong hesitated, unsure how to respond. Dunk had a way of prying without asking direct questions, and it made Joong feel exposed. “It doesn’t matter if it’s exhausting,” Joong said finally. “It’s my job.”
Dunk took a step closer, his tone softening. “Maybe it should matter.”
Joong’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked his reaction. “Is that all, sir?”
Dunk sighed, the brief crack in his cold demeanor vanishing as quickly as it came. “Yes. You’re dismissed.”
Joong left the room quickly, unsure why Dunk’s words lingered in his mind.
---
At School
The next day, Joong tried to focus on his studies, but Dunk’s words echoed in his head. As he and his brothers sat in the cafeteria, the tension was evident. Pond noticed Joong’s distracted state and nudged him gently.
“What’s wrong?” Pond asked.
“Nothing,” Joong replied quickly, though his voice lacked conviction.
Fourth, always perceptive, raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been weird since last night. Did Dunk say something to you?”
Joong shook his head. “It’s not important. Let it go.”
Fourth didn’t press further, but he exchanged a knowing look with Pond. Whatever was going on, they knew it wasn’t nothing.
Across the cafeteria, Phuwin leaned back in his chair, his attention fixed on Pond. A small smirk played on his lips as he caught Pond looking back at him, only for Pond to immediately avert his gaze.
“You’re really bad at hiding that you like him,” Fourth teased, keeping his voice low.
Pond flushed. “I don’t like him. He’s just... hard to ignore.”
“Uh-huh,” Fourth said, rolling his eyes. “And I’m the king of subtlety.”
---
The Encounter
Later that afternoon, the Joong brothers walked home, their father refusing to provide transportation as usual. Fourth chatted animatedly about an upcoming school project, while Pond remained quiet, lost in thought.
As they turned a corner near the Gemini mansion, they spotted Dunk waiting by the gate. He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, looking as cold and unapproachable as ever.
“What’s he doing here?” Fourth muttered.
Joong shrugged, though his heart raced. “Probably waiting for us.”
Dunk straightened as they approached, his eyes locking onto Joong. “I need to talk to you,” he said.
Joong’s brows furrowed. “About what?”
Dunk glanced at Pond and Fourth. “Alone.”
Pond immediately frowned. “Anything you need to say to Joong, you can say in front of us.”
“It’s not your business,” Dunk replied, his voice calm but firm.
Joong sighed. “It’s fine, Pond. I’ll handle it.”
Pond didn’t look happy, but he nodded reluctantly, following Fourth into the house. Once they were out of earshot, Dunk turned back to Joong.
“You’re too good at hiding how you feel,” Dunk said.
Joong blinked, taken aback. “What are you talking about?”
“You put on this perfect mask every day,” Dunk said. “But I can see through it.”
Joong’s defenses went up immediately. “You don’t know anything about me.”
Dunk stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. “I know more than you think.”
Joong’s heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stand his ground. “If you don’t need anything, I should go.”
Before he could walk away, Dunk reached out, grabbing Joong’s wrist. The touch was firm but not harsh, and it sent an unexpected jolt through Joong.
“You’re more than just a servant,” Dunk said, his voice low. “Stop pretending that’s all you are.”
Joong yanked his hand away, his eyes blazing. “You don’t get to decide what I am.”
Without waiting for a response, Joong turned and walked away, leaving Dunk standing alone by the gate, his expression unreadable.
-----
Don't expect much from this story as I'm still spiraling and very sick so I can hardly focus and might repeat certain things that already happened
YOU ARE READING
Shadows
Fanfiction(P.s this is Dunkjoong, fourthgemini and Phuwinpond) In this story, Joong and his brothers-Pond and Fourth-work as servants and protectors for Dunk and his brothers, Phuwin and Gemini, as part of their father's debt to the wealthy family. Despite th...
